The world has changed quite a bit in light of COVID-19. While we’re staying home and doing our part to isolate ourselves from others, we’re learning to navigate what each day looks like amidst a global pandemic. The vast majority of us are following along as we watch news reports on the number of coronavirus cases in various countries, and if there’s one thing we can all relate to, it’s the need to feel connected and close to others while staying home. Now more than ever, we are finding new ways to not only say hello or celebrate a birthday, but to make a positive impact and help those who need it most.
During this time of uncertainty, people all around the world are exploring their creativity and looking to crafting as an emotional and therapeutic outlet. It has become a sense of purpose for many of us and with each day, that purpose becomes more meaningful than it has ever been. From designing simple greeting cards to making masks for neighbors, we are realizing how impactful small crafts and gestures can be in feeling the warmth and love of others, even if it is not face to face.
In between virtual hangouts, there is so much opportunity for making, whether it be a crafting project or cooking a new meal. And the Cricut community is constantly reminding me of how much potential we all have in our (freshly washed) hands. Most recently, in response to this terrible virus, I’ve seen the power of community and what it means to come together in defiance of the circumstances.
Teachers are continuing to educate and mentor their students by going the distance to make the virtual experience feel as close to the classroom as possible. While some teachers are sprucing up their at-home classrooms to make lessons more fun and engaging, others are mailing long-distance hugs to their students in the form of handmade crafts. This creativity can be seen far and wide. With retirement homes and hospice care not allowing visitors, families are coming up with new ways to make sure their parents and grandparents feel the love and support they wish they could give them in person. While families are doing their part, others who simply want to be there for the elderly are pitching in to make sweet greeting cards for nursing home residents in their area. And that’s one of the most beautiful silver linings of these trying times; the fact that complete strangers are not only willing, but ready to craft just to brighten someone’s day—from ‘Craft Kits’ left on doorsteps to hundreds of paper hearts on house windows—people of all generations are demonstrating the power of compassion.
Beyond all the amazing crafts being made to lift spirits, generous souls across the world are dedicating their time and resources to supplement shortages in lifesaving face masks. On social media, thousands of individuals are coming together to make reusable DIY masks for others to ensure hospitals and first responders have access to the medical grade masks that are so critical right now. People are showing their creativity with designs that speak to their personality or style, while showing others that staying safe and being responsible can still be expressive.
With all the time I spend online engaging with the crafting community, I am still surprised every day by the overwhelming amount of kindness being shared among family, friends and strangers alike. I want to thank all of you for going above and beyond to bring us all closer together. What has been so inspiring to me is seeing how steadfast creativity truly is—no matter what is going on in the world, whether positive or negative, creativity is transcendent and it comes to life when we need it the most.
If I’ve learned one thing during this crisis, it’s that we are all connected in this journey and together, we can get through just about anything—one heart, one mask and one kind act at a time.
In response to COVID-19, Cricut has rallied its community to help make face masks together, united in creativity. With over 685,000+ masks already made for family, friends, frontline workers, and members of the essential workforce, Cricut is asking everyone to join the movement to reach a goal of 2MM masks together. All face mask designs are free on Cricut’s Design Space, and for those that do not have machines, PDF patterns are available at cricut.com/millions-of-masks.
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